The union links two of the richest men in sports: Blazers' owner Paul Allen and Philip Anschutz, Nos. 41 and 125 respectively on Forbes' list of world billionaires. It also links Vulcan Sports & Entertainment Chief Executive Tod Leiweke with his brother, Timothy, AEG's chief executive and president.

AEG owns a stake in the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where it is developing a $2.5 billion sports, residential and entertainment district. Trail Blazers executives have cited the district as a model it wants to use to redevelop the 32-acre Rose Quarter, which includes the 20,000-seat Rose Garden and 12,000-seat Memorial Coliseum.